Video Monitoring System For A School Bus

ABSTRACT

A video camera system for a school bus or other vehicle to replace one or more of the mirror systems typically utilized on buses and vehicles today. One or two cameras can be positioned on the sides of the school bus in place of the rearview mirrors presently utilized. A pair of cameras with wide-angle lenses can be positioned on the front fenders of the school bus to replace the cross view mirrors currently used today on school buses. One or more cameras can also be positioned on the rear of the school bus to display the environment immediately behind the school bus. Video monitors displaying the images from the cameras can be positioned inside the school bus or vehicle for viewing by the driver.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/617,912 filed Dec. 29, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to video monitoring systems andmore particularly to video monitoring systems for school buses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

School buses are presently equipped with a variety of mirrors for use inassisting the driver to view surroundings and the situation around allareas of the bus. Presently, one or more rear view mirrors arepositioned on each side of the school buses so that the driver can viewthe situation along the sides of the school bus and in the distancebehind the school bus. In addition, school buses are provided in theirfront forward corners with cross-view mirrors. Cross-view mirrors aregenerally convex in shape and provide the driver with a field of view inthe front of the bus and along the sides of the bus so that the drivercan see children crossing in front of the bus and walking along thesides of the bus.

When the bus is moving, the driver uses the two side view mirrors in thesame manner that the driver's use rearview mirrors on passenger cars.Also, in some buses, a centrally located rearview mirror located insidethe bus is utilized to view the situation immediately behind the bus.The cross-view mirrors are utilized by the bus drivers when the vehicleis stopped and passengers are loading and unloading. All of thosemirrors are relatively large in size and create blind spots obstructingthe driver's view in one manner or another.

Improved systems for allowing the bus drivers to view the situation andenvironment around the bus are needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a unique and improved system whicheliminates some blind spots for bus drivers and allows them to viewtheir surroundings immediately adjacent all sides of the bus in a bettermanner. One or more video cameras are positioned on each side of the busas replacements for the rearview mirrors typically utilized today.Preferably, two cameras are provided on each side of the bus, onerepresenting a flat mirror and the other representing a convex mirror astypical with school buses today. A standard flat lens is utilized on thefirst camera, while a wide-angle convex lens is utilized on the secondcamera. The monitors for the outside cameras are positioned on theA-pillars inside of the bus in a position approximately where the busdriver would normally look to view his rear view mirrors.

A pair of video cameras are also mounted on the two front fenders of theschool bus in place of the cross-view mirrors. These video cameraspreferably have convex or fish-eye type lenses in order to replicate thefield of view of a cross-view mirror. A monitor positioned centrally onthe dashboard of the school bus will display the images produced by thecameras on the front fenders of the bus. Preferably, a pair of side byside monitors or a single monitor with a split screen can be utilized.

Also, in order for the driver to view the situation immediately behindthe bus, one or two video cameras can be is positioned on the rear ofthe bus, preferably adjacent the roofline. The cameras positioned on therear of the bus preferably have wide angle lenses in order to provide asmuch of a view of the situation behind the bus as possible. The monitordisplaying the information from the video camera on the back of the buscan be positioned inside the school bus in a position normally occupiedby a central rear view mirror.

In addition, airfoil/venturi members are preferably positioned adjacentsome of the camera lenses, particularly on the “cross-view” cameras onthe front of the bus in order to aid in keeping the lenses free fromdirt and other debris from the road and/or environmental conditions.

The present invention will be more clearly understood with reference tothe accompanying drawings. Other benefits, features, and aspects of theinvention will become apparent from the following written description ofthe invention when viewed in accordance with the attached drawings andappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a school bus illustrating the useof video cameras in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the school bus as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the school bus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the school bus as shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a bus cabin depicting the positionof the monitors for the various cameras on the outside of the schoolbus.

FIG. 6 illustrates the use of an airfoil/venturi member utilized with avideo camera in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

School buses today have their variety of mirrors that the driversutilize to view the situations inside and outside of the vehicles,whether the school bus is moving or stationary. These mirrors allow thedriver to view the surrounding situation and environment. Many of thesemirrors, however, particularly the mirrors positioned on the sides ofthe school buses and on the front fenders, can create blind spots in thevisibility of the drivers.

With the present invention, the mirrors typically utilized on theoutside of the school bus are replaced by video cameras and the displaysare shown in a plurality of monitors positioned at strategic locationsinside the school bus. The cameras are mounted in non-obtrusivelocations in order to allow increased visibility of the driver to theoutside environment. The monitors inside the school bus can bepositioned in locations that the driver is accustomed to looking at theoutside mirrors so the drivers can easily switch from a school bus withmirrors to a school bus with video cameras.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a representative school bus is schematicallyshown and indicated by the reference numeral 10. FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview of the school bus; FIG. 2 is a side view of the school bus; FIG. 3is a front view of the school bus; and FIG. 4 is a top view of theschool bus.

The present invention utilizes a plurality of video cameras on theexterior of the school bus. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, pairs of videocameras 20, 22 and 24, 26 are positioned on each side of the school busand replace the set of rear view mirrors typically utilized on schoolbuses today. In addition, a pair of video cameras 30 and 32 arepositioned on the right and left front fenders of the school bus. Inaddition, at least one video camera 40 is positioned on the rear of theschool bus in order to allow the driver to view the situationimmediately behind the bus.

The video cameras can be any of the conventional types of video camerasknown today. In this regard, although the cameras illustrated in thedrawings appear to be smaller versions of consumer video cameras, theactual video cameras preferred for use with the present invention aresmaller and less intrusive. Video cameras on the order of ¾ inch indiameter and 2-3 inches in length are preferred, such as shown in FIG.6. Video cameras of this type are in common use today in manyapplications. Also, cameras of this size will not block the view of thedriver in any direction, as currently exists with large cross-viewmirrors and large rear view mirrors.

The lenses for the video cameras can be conventional, although some arespecially made to provide the fields of view which are required atcertain locations. One of the pairs of video cameras on each side of theschool bus, namely cameras 20 and 24, replace the flat mirrors which aretypically utilized on the sides of school buses, as well as most othervehicles on the road today. Conventional flat lenses are utilized onthese cameras. The second pair of video cameras on each side of theschool buses, namely cameras 22 and 26, have wide-angle lenses whichreplace the convex rear view mirrors currently provided on school buses.

The two sets of cameras on each side of the school bus are positioned sothat they view rearwardly toward the rear of the school bus. These arerepresented by arrows 28 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The cameras withflat lenses provide a straight view rearwardly while the wide-anglelenses provide a wider field of view allowing the drivers to see objectsat a greater distance from the sides of the bus.

Although two cameras are illustrated positioned on each side of theschool bus, it is also possible to provide only a single camera on eachside of the bus.

The cameras 30 and 32 positioned on the front fenders of the school bushave special lens replicating the fields of view currently provided bycross-view mirrors. Since these cameras are replacing the convex-typecross-view mirrors utilized on school buses today, it is preferred thatthe camera lenses provide a wide field of view allowing viewing alongthe front of the bus as well as part of the sides of the bus (up to atleast the cameras 20, 22, 24, and 26 positioned on the sides of thebuses).

The cross-view cameras 30 and 32 are also positioned by bracket andsupporting arm members such that they extend past the front of the busand beyond the sides of the bus and point in a direction back toward thefront corners of the buses in order to provide the requisite fields ofview.

In order to keep the lenses on the cameras from being covered with dirtand other road debris, a self-cleaning member is provided adjacent thecamera lenses. This is preferably placed on the cross-view cameras onthe front of the school bus. The self-cleaning members areairfoil/venturi-type members which direct air to pass through themincrease in velocity, and keep the lenses cleaner. The air withincreased velocity is directed against the lenses in order to preventthem from being covered with dust and other debris, and to clean off anysettled debris.

At the rear of the bus 10, one or more cameras 40 are also provided. Onecamera positioned in the middle of the rear of the bus preferably isprovided. It is also possible alternatively to provide a pair of cameras40′ at the two corners as shown in FIG. 4 in hidden lines.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the cab portion of a school bus, the cabportion being indicated by the reference numeral 50. The driver 52 isshown sitting in a driver's seat 54 and looking in a direction towardthe front window or windshield 56 of the school bus 10. A pair of sidewindows 58 and 60 are also shown in FIG. 5. The portions of the schoolbus 10 between the front windshield 56 and the side windows 58 and 60are known as the A-pillars of the vehicle. These are indicated by thereference numerals 62 and 64. Virtually all vehicles have an A-pillar ofsome type.

A pair of video monitors 70 and 72 are positioned on the front leftA-pillar 64. The monitors 70 and 72 are used to display the imagesprovided by cameras 20 and 22, respectively, which are positionedoutside the school bus and on the same side of the bus.

In a similar manner, video monitors 74 and 76 are positioned on theright front A-pillar 62 of the bus. The monitors 74 and 76 display theimages provided by the cameras 24 and 26, respectively, which arepositioned on the corresponding left outside surface of the school bus,as shown.

The monitors 70, 72 and 74, 76 can comprise two sets of two monitors.Alternatively, only one monitor with a split screen on each A-pillar canbe provided. Also, if only a single video camera is positioned on eachside of the school bus, then only a single monitor needs to bepositioned on each of the A-pillars.

As shown, the positions of the monitors 70, 72, and 74, 76 are as closeas possible to the locations where the drivers would ordinarily view therearview mirrors positioned on school buses today, as well as othervehicles. Thus, for the drivers to view these monitors, this would bebasically the same as a driver viewing rear view mirrors today.

A video monitor 80 is provided to display the images provided by thecamera 40 on the rear of the bus. As shown in FIG. 5, the monitor 80 ispositioned approximately in a location where a central rearview mirrorwould be positioned on a traditional automobile or other vehicle. Themonitor 80 could also be positioned in any other convenient location.Thus, with the video camera (or cameras) 40, the driver can view thesituation immediately behind the bus.

Video monitors for the cross-view cameras are provided on the dashboardof the vehicle and illustrated by the reference numerals 90 and 92. Asindicated above, the cross-view mirrors are typically viewed by thedriver when the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off thebus. The monitors 90, 92 are preferably positioned on the right half ofthe instrument panel in a direction toward the egress door (not shown)which is typically positioned on school buses on the right side of thedriver. Thus, the driver can view the images from the cross-view cameras30 and 32 on the monitors 90, 92 at the same time he is viewing thechildren getting on and off the bus through the primary egress door.Again, one monitor with a split screen can be provided instead of a pairof separate monitors 90 and 92.

A cleaning airfoil/venturi member 100 used to prevent a buildup of dustand other debris on the camera lenses is shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, thevideo camera itself is referred to by the reference numerals 30 and 32since the cleaning member 100 is preferably used with the cross-viewcameras on the front corners of the bus. The airfoil/venturi member 100is preferably a hollow tube 110 with a series of slits or aperatures 112in the sides thereof. Louver-types flanges 114 on the member 100 directair from the air stream 116 which is caused by the movement of the busin the direction of arrow 118. The member 100 is positioned over or onthe end of the cameras 30, 32 as indicated. The member 100 acts like aventuri and increases the velocity of the air passing into the hollowinterior 120 of the tube. This provides a stream of air which isdiverted toward the lenses of the cameras to help keep them clean andfree of dirt and other debris.

Other forms or structures of an air deflector could be used to redirecta portion of the airflow 116 across the front of the lens to help keepit cleaner. For example, a partial tube, a series of individualdeflectors, or the like could be utilized.

Rather than providing monitors mounted inside the bus as shown, anoutlet port 200 can be provided on the bus for connection to a laptop orother portable computer. The outlet port is preferably provided on thedashboard of the bus. In this manner, the driver can monitor the fieldsof view from the front cross-view cameras in an easier and moreversatile manner.

A stand or shelf (not shown) could also be provided adjacent the driverfor positioning of the portable computer. In an alternate embodiment, alaptop or portable computer could be utilized along with the stationarymonitors described above.

A portable computer or other central computer could also be utilized forrecording and maintaining the records of the movements and activities ofthe bus as it is being utilized in the field. The images from all of thevideo cameras located outside the bus could be directed to a centralcomputer (e.g. to a portable computer through the outport port 200)which would record all of the daily activities of the bus. This computervideo storage member, illustrated schematically by box 202 in FIG. 5,would then act in the same manner as the “Black Box” used on commercialairplanes today. The video storage member 202 could be used to determinethe cause of any accidents in which the bus might be involved, or tosimply monitor the driving skills and habits of the drivers. In thelatter situation, the video storage members could be utilized to weedout unsafe or unworthy bus drivers creating a safer and betterenvironment for the passengers on the bus.

In an alternate embodiment, video cameras can be provided only on thefront fenders of the buses replacing the cross-view mirrors currently inuse today. Conventional rearview mirrors would remain on the sides ofthe buses. The cross-view cameras would have lenses replicating thefields of view of current cross-view mirrors or provide improved widerand clearer fields of view.

In this alternate embodiment, the monitor or monitors (i.e. two separatemonitors or one with a split screen) would be positioned on thedashboard, such as at monitors 90, 92 shown in FIG. 5. The monitorscould also be positioned on one of the A-pillars. A laptop or otherportable computer (as discussed above and preferably connected throughoutlet port 200) could also be utilized instead.

The lenses on the cross-view cameras should provide fields of view atleast as good as the oval convex cross-view mirrors in use today. Thesecross-view mirrors typically have radii of curvature which decrease insome manner along their major axes from the center of the lens to theperimeters. An example of such lenses are shown in U.S. Pat. No.5,589,984, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.The cross-view cameras could also have lenses replicating the fields ofview of the constant radii cross-view mirrors as shown in U.S. Pat. No.6,227,674. Preferably, however, the lenses on the cross-view cameras inaccordance with the present invention have fields of view replicatingfields of view provided by the convex cross-view mirror lenses disclosedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/908,038, filed on Apr. 26, 2005,the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In thisregard, the fields of view from the camera lenses preferably reduce thesize of the image of the bus itself and enlarge the images of theenvironment and surroundings outside the bus. This makes it easier tospot children and other items which might otherwise not be so easilynoticed or observed.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur tothose skilled in the arm. Accordingly, it is intended that the inventionbe limited only in terms of the appended claims.

1. A video camera system for school buses comprising: a first pair ofcross-view video cameras positioned on each of the front fenders of theschool bus for displaying images at least along the front of the bus;and a first monitor positioned inside the school bus for displayingimages from said pair of cross-view video cameras.
 2. A video camerasystem as described in claim 1, further comprising a second pair ofvideo cameras are provided on each of the two sides of the school bus.3. A video camera system as described in claim 2 further comprising asecond monitor positioned inside the school bus for displaying imagesfrom said second pair of video cameras.
 4. A video camera system asdescribed in claim 3 wherein said second monitor is a split screenmonitor.
 5. A video camera system as described in claim 1 wherein saidfirst monitor is a split screen monitor.
 6. A video camera system asdescribed in claim 1 further comprising at least one third video camerapositioned on the rear of the school bus for providing images of thearea immediately behind the school bus.
 7. A video camera system asdescribed in claim 6 further comprising at least one third monitorpositioned inside the school bus for displaying images from said thirdvideo camera.
 8. A video camera system as described in claim 1 furthercomprising cleaning members provided adjacent each of the lenses of saidpair of cross-view video cameras for increasing the velocity of the airand directing it against the camera lenses.
 9. The video camera systemas described in claim 1 further comprising a video recording member forrecording and retaining the images displayed from said first pair ofvideo cameras, wherein the images recorded from the activities of thebus can be later monitored.
 10. The video camera system as described inclaim 1 further comprising an outport port in the bus for connection toa portable computer.
 11. A video camera system for vehicles comprising:at least one first video camera positioned on each side of the vehiclefor displaying images in a rearward direction along the sides of thevehicle; a pair of cross-view video cameras positioned on each of thefront fenders of the vehicle for displaying images at least along thefront of the vehicle; and a first monitor positioned inside the vehiclefor displaying images from said first video camera and said cross-viewvideo cameras.
 12. A video camera system as described in claim 11wherein a pair of first video cameras are provided on each of the twosides of the school bus.
 13. A video camera system as described in claim12 wherein a pair of monitors or a split screen monitor is positionedinside the vehicle for displaying images from said first and cross-viewvideo camera.
 14. A video camera system as described in claim 11 furthercomprising at least one third video camera positioned at the rear of thevehicle for providing images of the area immediately behind the vehicle.15. A vehicle camera system as described in claim 14 further comprisingat least a second monitor positioned inside the vehicle for displayingimages from said third video camera.
 16. The video camera system asdescribed in claim 1 further comprising a video recording system forrecording and retaining the images displayed from at least one of saidvideo cameras, wherein the images recorded from the activities of thevehicle can be later monitored.